Zugzwang [COMPLETED]

Part I, chapter 6

- VI -

It was almost midnight and we were playing chess. I knew that I was good at chess, so when he offered it, I just snorted. Fine, I thought. Like I would miss an opportunity to kick his ass! Well, it was our sixth game and the score was three-two in his favor. I couldn't believe it. I carefully looked at the board when his face suddenly became so serene that it seemed like he was meditating or something. I knew immediately that he just laid out his trap. If I lose, I will beat him to death with the chessboard.

I stared at the board for almost five minutes, and I couldn't see the damn trap. It bugged the hell out of me.

"You gonna make a move or what?" he asked finally. "I thought you were sleepy."

"Shut up," I muttered and almost couldn't breathe when I finally saw his trap.

Have to give it to him, I thought gloomily, he is a clever bastard. I knew how to keep a poker face. I knew it ever since I turned twelve. So I didn't move a muscle and reached for my knight. Logan's eyes immediately twinkled like mad. I laughed silently inside my head, my face as gloomy as ever. At the last second, I quickly moved my hand towards the bishop and moved it across the board in one smooth move.

"Check," I said indifferently. "Oh, wait... No... Checkmate," I looked at him and finallysmiled.

He stared at the board and blinked.

"Son of a bitch," he muttered, and suddenly, he looked so sad and frustrated that I frowned.

"Wait a minute," I said slowly, and he looked at me, his eyes so sad that they could put Bambi to shame. "Now wait a minute! Did you let me win?!"

He looked at me like I just accused him of some unspeakable crime.

"No!" he said with so much dignity that I immediately knew I was right. "I would never do such a thing!"

"Oh my God!" I exclaimed in disbelief. "You let me win! I don't believe this!!"

"I didn't," he said and quickly moved aside when I threw a rook at his head. "It's a tie..."

"You..." I growled and threw several more pieces at him.

One of the pawns hit him on the forehead.

"Ow," he winced. "I swear I didn't let you win!"

"I don't believe this," I hissed and threw a handful of pieces at him.

"Ow!" he jumped up. "Jesus... Will you stop this... Ow!! This hurts, just so you know..."

"Good," I said energetically and grabbed more pieces.

"Okay, that's it..." he muttered and lunged at me.

"You, cheating bastard..." I growled when he grabbed the chess pieces out of my hand.

"Knock it off," he laughed. "I didn't cheat!"

"Like hell you didn't!" I managed to whack him on the head with the queen and he growled at me.

"Okay," he breathed. "That's it!!"

He grabbed both of my wrists and pulled them up.

"Knock it off," he laughed when I tried kicking him in the shins. "Just knock it off..."

He held me so close to him that I could smell his cigarettes on his clothes. Suddenly, I was aware of how close to me he was, and I tried to pull my hands free, but he held me tight.